Petition For Declaratory Judgment 2-8-2017 Filed
Petition For Declaratory Judgment 2-8-2017 Filed
Petition For Declaratory Judgment 2-8-2017 Filed
TARRANT COUNTY
2/8/2017 12:32:29 PM
THOMAS A. WILDER
DISTRICT CLERK
017-290364-17
1 CASE NO. _______________ February 8, 2017
17 I.
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18 DISCOVERY-CONTROL PLAN
19 1.01 Plaintiff intends for discovery to be conducted, should any discovery
20 be necessary, under Level 2 pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 190.1 and 190.3
21 1.02 Plaintiff affirmatively pleads that this suit is not governed by the
22 expedited actions process under Tex. R. Civ. P. 169. Plaintiff does not anticipate
23 that Tex. R. Civ. P. 47 for expedition will become factor because Plaintiff seeks
24 Declaratory Judgment.
25 II.
28 2.02 The remedies sought are within the jurisdictional authority of the
29 court pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 47.
30 III.
31 PARTIES
32 3.01 Plaintiff is James A McGuire, on behalf of himself and other similarly
33 situated in the state of Texas. James A McGuire resides in Tarrant County, Texas.
34 3.02 Defendant Greg Abbott was the duly elected Governor of Texas
35 during 2003-2004, and is the Chief Executive Officer of the State of Texas under
36 Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Texas. Governor Abbott
37 has allowed (78R) H.B. 1493 to continue to be effective law since January 1, 2004,
38 and is sued here in his official capacity.
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41 3.04 Pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 37.006(b) the Attorney
42 General must be served and is entitled to be heard.
45 IV.
46 JURISDICTION
47 4.01 This Court has jurisdiction to hear this case under the Uniform
48 Declaratory Judgments Act, Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 37. The
49 declaration sought is within the jurisdictional authority of the court pursuant to
50 Tex. R. Civ. P. 37.003. In addition, Tex. Govt Code 22.004(g) would be
51 inapplicable. All relief sought by Plaintiff is within the jurisdictional limits of this
52 Court. Pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 37.002(b).
53 V.
54 VENUE
55 5.01 Tarrant County is a proper venue because it is the county in plaintiff is
56 located. It is also the county in which an alleged violation of the law occurred.
57 Furthermore, purpose of the Declaratory Judgments Act is to settle and afford
58 relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status, and other legal
59 relations. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 37.002(b) (Vernon 2008); see
60 Bonham State Bank, 907 S.W.2d at 467; Indian Beach Property Owners Assn
61 v.Linden, 222 S.W.3d 682, 699 (Tex. App.Houston [1st Dist] 2007, no pet.)
62 VI.
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63 SUMMARY OF THE CASE
64 6.01 Section 51.0001(4)(C) of Chapter 51, Texas Property code reflects a
65 mortgagee (4) means (C) if the security interest has been assigned of record,
66 the last person to whom the security interest has been assigned of record. This
67 subsection is ambiguous in the statutes plain language.1, 2
9 3
When a statute is alleged to be overbroad and vague, we first determine whether the statute
10 "reaches a substantial amount of constitutionally protected conduct. See Kuhl v. State, Tex: Court
11 of Appeals, 6th Dist. 2016
4
12 Tex. Bus. Comm. Code- Sec. 9.110. SECURITY INTERESTS ARISING UNDER CHAPTER 2
13 OR 2A. A security interest arising under Section 2.401, 2.505, 2.711(c), or 2A.508(e) is subject
14 to this chapter. However, until the debtor obtains possession of the goods:
15 (1) the security interest is enforceable, even if Section 9.203(b)(3) has not been
16 satisfied;
17 (2) filing is not required to perfect the security interest;
18 (3) the rights of the secured party after default by the debtor are governed by
19 Chapter 2 or 2A; and
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77 interest assigned, and filed of record in the county clerks records as an eligible
78 instrument with the force of law.
21 (4) the security interest has priority over a conflicting security interest created
22 by the debtor.
23 5
"purpose of recording laws is to notify subsequent purchasers ... and not to give protection to
24 perpetrators of fraud") See Ojeda de Toca v. Wise, 748 SW 2d 449 - Tex: Supreme Court 1988
6
25 Section 192.007 of the Texas Local Government Code requires the re-recording of the
26 security instrument each time there is a release, transfer, assignment, or some other action
27 related to the instrument. See Nueces County v. MERSCORP HOLDINGS, INC., Dist. Court,
28 SD Texas 2013
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95 ambiguous, vague, overbroad, or possibly illegal, and violates the Texas
96 Constitution.
101 VII.
105 7.02 Plaintiff does not expect any challenge to the history of 51.0001 being
106 enacted into law by Texas Legislators. (78R) H.B.1493 was sponsored by Burt
107 Rowe Solomons, and passed into law; and such law being effective January 1,
108 2004.
109 7.03 Plaintiff believes it was not the intent of the Texas Legislature to
110 cause constitutional harm to other existing enacted Texas law. Plaintiff believes
111 the Texas Legislature relied upon the assumption that a mortgagee being a lender
112 person of a financial institution was the intent.
113 7.04 On January 1, 1984, SB 748, was enacted by the 68th Regular Session
114 of the Texas Legislature, Relating to adoption of a nonsubstantive revision of the
115 statutes relating to property. Chapter 51 was added to the Texas Property Code,
116 adding sections 51.001, Effect on other Liens, and section 51.002, Sale of Real
117 Property Under Contract Lien.
7
30 See 51.0001(1), Tex. Prop. Code.
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118 7.05 In 2003, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1493 during the 78th
119 Legislative Session. House Bill 1493 added Section 51.0001 to the Texas
120 Property Code, which became effective on January 1, 2004.
121 7.06 On June 6, 2003 (78R) H.B.1493 was signed by, acting in their
122 individual official capacities for the State of Texas, duly elected, acting by and
123 through the Texas Senate of the State of Texas.
124 7.07 On June 6, 2003 (78R) H.B.1493 was signed by, acting in their
125 individual official capacities for the State of Texas, duly elected, acting by and
126 through the Texas House of Representatives of the State of Texas.
127 7.08 On June 20, 2003 (78R) H.B.1493 was signed off by, Rick Perry,
128 acting in his official capacity as Governor of the State of Texas.
129 7.09 In House Bill 1493, the sponsor, Burt Rowe Solomons provided that
130 pursuant to section 51.0001(4) a mortgagee means; giving three parts, (A); (B);
131 or (C),
132 7.09 Section 51.0001(4)(C) creates a controversy with other Texas Law
133 such as Section 192.007(a), Texas Local Government Code, and possibly other
134 Texas law.
135 7.10 Article 16, section 48 of the Texas Constitution provides that all
136 laws and parts of laws now in force in the State of Texas, which are not repugnant
137 to the Constitution of the United States, or to this Constitution, shall continue and
138 remain in force as the laws of this State, until they expire by their own limitation
139 or shall be amended or repealed by the Legislature.
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142 immunities, or in any manner disfranchised, except by the due course of the law of
143 the land.
144 VIII.
151 8.02 Plaintiff provides this declaratory judgment for the benefit of the
152 people similarly situated in the state of Texas; and for the existing enacted Texas
153 laws without a voice to protect its statutory rights. "The right to judicial review of
154 acts of legislative and administrative bodies affecting constitutional or property
155 rights is axiomatic." City of Houston v. Blackbird, 394 S.W.2d 159, 162 (Tex.
156 1965).
157 8.03 This suit for declaratory judgment is brought pursuant to the Uniform
158 Declaratory Judgments Act in Chapter 37 of the Texas Civil Practice and
159 Remedies Code. A court of record within its jurisdiction has power to declare
160 rights, status, and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be
161 claimed. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 37.003(a). A personwhose rights,
162 status, or other legal relations are affected by a statutemay have determined any
163 question of construction or validity arising under thestatuteand obtain a
164 declaration of rights, status, or other legal relations thereunder. Id. at
165 37.004(a).
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166 8.04 The courts general jurisdictional authority under Article V, 8 of the
167 Texas Constitution and Tex. Govt Code 24.011 is properly invoked by the filing
168 of a declaratory judgment action challenging the constitutionality of a statute.
169 8.05 It has been noted in previous court cases, Legally, qualified immunity
170 applies so long as the official conduct of the individual defendant "does not violate
171 clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person
172 would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982). Qualified
173 immunity generally requires an inquiry into (1) whether the plaintiff in the civil
174 action has demonstrated the violation of a constitutionally protected right and (2)
175 "whether the right is so 'clearly established' that a reasonable official would
176 understand that what he is doing violates that right." Brennan v. Township of
177 Northville, 78 F.3d 1152, 1154 (6th Cir. 1996). The court can consider any inquiry
178 first, and need not reach the remaining inquiry if it answers any inquiry in the
179 negative.
180 8.06 In a semi-recent federal court interlocutory order the court stated
181 TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE ANN. 192.007(a). Based on the plain language of
182 Section 192.007, the Court concludes that the statute requires the re-filing of an
183 instrument each time there is a release, transfer, assignment, or some other action
184 relating to an instrument filed with the county clerk. This interpretation is
185 consistent with this Court's previous interpretation of this statute. See Miller v.
186 Homecomings Financial, LLC, 881 F. Supp. 2d 825, 830 (S.D. Tex. 2012) ("Texas
187 statute declares that any transfer or assignment of a recorded mortgage must also
188 be recorded in the office of the county clerk"). There are no recorded cases of
189 Texas state courts interpreting Section 192.007. See Nueces County v.
190 MERSCORP HOLDINGS, INC., Dist. Court, SD Texas 2013
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191 8.07 Thus, one could reasonably infer from the federal courts interlocutory
192 order that 51.0001(4)(C) system has caused a reduction in filing fees collected by
193 the County and that the County's property records have been degraded as a result
194 of a book entry system(s) such as MERS. Texas Local Government Code
195 requires the re-recording of the security instrument each time there is a release,
196 transfer, assignment, or some other action related to the instrument filed of
197 record.8
198 8.08 Whether the Texas Legislature or the sponsor of House Bill 1493
199 knew exactly what was being accomplished with the amendment only those
200 involved would know. Nonetheless, the statute as enacted, and upon its face
201 provides for ambiguity. As the federal court opined, a re-filing of a related
202 instrument would be required due to 192.007(a).
8
35 Nueces County v. MERSCORP HOLDINGS, INC., Dist. Court, SD Texas 2013 2:12-cv-00131
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214 8.11 On its face, section 51.0001(4)(C) is vague enough to allow for
215 transactions governed by section 322.016 of Texas Uniform Electronic
216 Transactions Act to be given the effect of full force of law.
217 8.12 On its face, section 51.0001(4)(C) is vague enough to deprive the
218 county clerks of revenue regarding filing fees.
219 8.13 On its face, section 51.0001(4)(C) is vague enough to deprive the
220 Secretary of State of revenue regarding filing fees.
230 8.16 Whether the court ponders upon the facial challenge, or as
231 applied doctrine the results would be the same. Section 51.0001(4) (C) allows
232 for deprivation of other Texas laws. Faithfully applying the law cannot mean
233 short-circuiting one Texas law in order to strike down another. See - Supreme
234 Court of Texas No. 15-0139 In Re State Of Texas, Relator
235 8.17 There are three (3) possible options to seemingly resolve the
236 51.0001(4)(C) constitutional violation, (1) the Texas Legislature could simply
237 amend a single word lawfully in two places, which would ensure 192.007(a)
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238 was not violated of its statutory rights. As an example; if the security interest has
239 been <lawfully> assigned of record, the last person to whom the security interest
240 has been <lawfully> assigned of record. (2) Or the Texas legislature could revert
241 back to the previous version of Chapter 51 which appeared to have worked
242 flawlessly. (3) Or the Texas legislature could completely remove the
243 unconstitutional portions of section 51.0001 which would allow all other Texas
244 law violated by such section to gain equal protection provided for by the
245 Constitution.
246 IX.
251 X.
255 XI.
260 XII.
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261 CONCLUSION
273
274 XIII.
275 PRAYER
276 13.1 For these reasons, plaintiff asks that defendants be cited to appear and
277 answer and that the Court declare section 51.0001(4)(C) in violation of
278 the Texas constitution, thus violating other Texas law; And plaintiff
279 requests any other declaratory determination to which plaintiff is entitled
280 to.
284 j.mcguire@trilliondollarfubar.com
285 817 704-8961
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286 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
287 I hereby certify that according to the word-count feature of the OpenOffice Writer,
288 which has been applied including headers the Petition for Declaratory Judgment
289 consists of a cumulative total of 2,904 words. Last three digits of Texas Drivers
290 license is 412 and last three digits of SSN is 020.
298 Pursuant to chapter 132(d), Texas Civil Remedies and Practices, I, James A
299 McGuire provides this unsworn declaration. "My name is James A McGuire, my
300 date of birth is November 10, 1952, and my address is 1717 Grassy View Drive
301 Fort Worth, Texas 76177 and United States.
302 I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
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306 Email: j.mcguire@trilliondollarfubar.com
307 Phone: 817 704 8961
309 I hereby certify that on February 8, 2017 a true and correct copy of Plaintiffs
310 Petition for Declaratory Judgment was delivered to parties of this case listed
311 below via Service of Process, Secretary of State.
312
313 Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott in his official capacity as Governor of Texas
314 U.S. Mail Defendant may be served at Office of the Governor
315 State Insurance Building
316 1100 San Jacinto
317 Austin, Texas 78701
318 c/o Service of Process, Secretary of State
319 P.O. Box 12079
320 Austin, Texas 78711-2079
321
322 Attorney General is being serviced pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code
323 37.006(b)
324 Ken Paxton in his official capacity as Attorney General of Texas U.S. Mail
325 300 W. 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701
326 c/o Service of Process, Secretary of State
327 P.O. Box 12079
328 Austin, Texas 78711-2079
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